South African authorities have suspended rescue efforts for a group of illegal miners trapped in an abandoned mine shaft west of Johannesburg, citing safety concerns.
Emergency teams managed to descend approximately 70 meters into the shaft, reaching a makeshift platform, before the operation was deemed too dangerous to continue.
“The search and rescue operation has been terminated for now due to the safety of the rescuers,” said Robert Mulaudzi of Johannesburg Emergency Services. He emphasized the complexity of the mission.
Reports indicate that the miners became stranded after a pulley system used for entry and exit broke. Authorities have not disclosed the mine owner’s identity. Efforts are now focused on identifying alternative access points, with local community members assisting in the search.
Illegal mining remains a widespread issue in South Africa, where informal miners—known as zama zamas, meaning “risk-takers” in isiZulu—enter abandoned shafts to extract leftover resources. Just last month, authorities recovered at least 78 bodies from an illegal gold mine after police had cut off food and water supplies in a crackdown on illicit mining activities.
Authorities have yet to determine the fate of the trapped miners as they assess safer ways to continue the rescue mission.
